Bob Goodwin loved his family, his dogs Oliver and Maggie, his home, music of all kinds, working as an independent land surveyor, clam rolls, franks and beans on Saturday night, offbeat humor, the towns of Andover, MA and Boothbay Harbor, ME, and an island off Cape Cod called Cuttyhunk.
Although he was a registered land surveyor by profession for more than 50 years, he was also a creative person with eclectic interests and diverse talents. A classically-trained Baritone, he performed with and directed choral groups and choirs, composed and recorded songs and played drums. He was intrigued by marvels like the Egyptian pyramids, the Great Wall of China and Stonehenge, and he authored several short books on these topics in a style that reflected both his serious interest and his quirky sense of humor. During the 1990’s he and his wife Gwen fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting both Egypt and Stonehenge.
Bob was born on February 20, 1923 in Haverhill Massachusetts to Clinton and Esther Goodwin, and enjoyed a happy childhood with his brother Foster and sister Priscilla. He developed his love of music at a young age, and fondly remembered listening for hours to records played on an old Victrola in his grandparents’ attic. His grandfather bought him a set of drums to stop him from banging on the radiators, and he enjoyed playing those drums throughout his college years and beyond.
Bob attended Burdett College after graduating from Haverhill High in 1941. In 1942, he underwent eardrum surgery that left him deaf in one ear. This condition made him ineligible to serve in WWII, a situation that caused him great heartache. His interest in music then deepened and he enrolled at Oberlin College School of Music. There, he majored in voice and enjoyed composing and performing. Bob gave his graduation voice recital on March 29, 1949 at Warner Concert Hall at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, accompanied by his lifelong friend Dale Crooks.
That same year, Bob joined his father’s architecture and land surveying firm in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He loved working independently with his crew in the outdoors, and became an expert on property throughout Essex County. In the mid-1960’s, Cornelius Wood of Andover engaged the firm to survey land on Cuttyhunk Island in Buzzard’s Bay, a project that took several years. The days spent on Cuttyhunk provided Bob with the fondest memories from his work. A memoir that Bob wrote about those times was published in the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette in 2008.
Between 1954 and 1960, Bob served on the Andover Planning Board and was involved in the creation of the first “cluster” subdivision developments in the town. He also served as a member of the Andover Conservation Committee. In the late 1970’s, Bob founded his own independent land-surveying business in Andover, where he became widely respected and well-known by residents, local attorneys, banks and Town Hall employees for his expertise, professionalism and integrity.
In 1950, Bob married Gwendolyn Simm of Haverhill. In 1953, they bought a new home on Central Street in Andover, where they raised three children who attended Andover Public Schools, and where they enjoyed living for more than 50 years.
Throughout, Bob’s love of music remained an integral part of his life. In the mid-1960’s he composed and recorded several songs, including, “You Gotta Think Big (And Act Humble),” and “Lissa.” He paid $50 to Ace Recordings in Boston to have radio singer Pat O’Day record his ballad, “One Way Street Called Love.” He sang in local chorales and the directed the church choirs at The Christian Science Church, Christ Episcopal Church, West Parish Church, a local synagogue and the Unitarian Universalist Church, where he also directed a memorable production of the musical “Tell It Like It Is.”
In 2004, Gwen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In December of that year, at the age of 80 and still working as a land surveyor, Bob suffered an incapacitating stroke. Since then, he and Gwen have resided at Notre Dame Long Term Care facility in Worcester, MA. In spite of his circumstances, Bob maintained a remarkably positive attitude and was never bitter. He corresponded daily through email with friends and family, and was an inspiration to his family and the staff at Notre Dame.
Bob is survived by his wife, Gwen, his sister Priscilla, of Northampton, Mass.; son Thomas Goodwin and his wife Cheryl Matheis and their children John and Claire of Vienna, VA; daughter Melissa Goodwin and her husband Richard Secor of Santa Fe, NM; daughter Jessica Hart and her husband Terry Hart and their daughters Olivia and Elizabeth of Princeton, MA.
A Conversation with Author Annalisa Crawford
2 months ago
